Hat for securing a pair of eyeglasses or other items

ABSTRACT

A hat configured to secure a pair of eyeglasses or any other stem is provided with a crown portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a band attached to the interior surface of the crown portion thereby forming a pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band, and at least one opening that extends through the exterior surface and interior surface of the crown portion wherein the at least one opening is positioned such that the pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band is accessible from the exterior surface of the crown portion through the opening, whereby an item may be inserted through the at least one opening and into the pocket formed between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band to secure the item to the hat.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to implementations of a hat configured to secure a pair of eyeglasses or other items

BACKGROUND

Eyeglasses with prescription lenses are frequently used to augment the vision of those with poor eyesight. Eyeglasses are also routinely used to shade and/or protect the wearers' eyes when participating in outdoor activities or sports. Hats are frequently used to store or carry eyeglasses when not in use. Wearers typically rest the rims of a pair of eyeglasses on a hat's bill while the temples of the eyeglasses abut opposite sides of the hat's crown portion. However, the eyeglasses can fall off and damage the eyeglasses as the wearer moves around with this method.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,885 (“'885 patent”) discloses a hat that utilizes a slit and an internal lining comprised of a semi-rigid but flexible material, affixed to the internal surface of the hat circumferentially around the slit opening for securing items to the exterior of a hat. The '885 patent discloses that because the internal lining is comprised of a semi-rigid, but flexible material, when the temples is inserted in the slit, the internal lining clamps down on the temples, thereby attaching the eyeglasses to the exterior portion of the hat.

However, the hat disclosed in the '885 patent has several disadvantages. First, many eyeglasses include aesthetic features on the temple of the eyeglasses. The hat disclosed in the '885 patent may not allow the wearer to showcase any aesthetics of the temple of the eyeglasses because the majority of the temples are hidden from view.

Second, when the eyeglasses are inserted into the slits of the hat, the temples may directly contact the wearer's head. This may be uncomfortable to the wearer. Third, the internal lining may increase the cost of the hat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an example hat configured to secure a pair of eyeglasses according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of the hat shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the hat shown in FIG. 1 showing the inside of the hat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of a hat configured to secure a pair of eyeglasses or any other item are provided. In some implementations, the hat comprises a crown portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a band attached to the interior surface of the crown portion thereby forming a pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band, and at least one opening that extends through the exterior surface and interior surface of the crown portion wherein the at least one opening is positioned such that the pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band is accessible from the exterior surface of the crown portion through the opening.

To secure an item on the hat, the item is inserted through the at least one opening and into the pocket formed between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example hat 10 and pair of eyeglasses 30 according to the present disclosure.

The pair of eyeglasses 30 comprises a rim 32, temples 36, and tips of the temples 38. The rim 32 contains a pair of lenses 34. The temples 36 can be straight or curved. In some implementations, the tips of the temples 38 can be straight (i.e., in-line with the temples 36), curved, or at an angle offset from the temples 36.

The eyeglasses 30 can includes any eyewear which is worn to augment vision, protect the eyes, or shade the eyes.

As shown, in FIGS. 1 and 2, in some implementations, the hat 10 comprises a crown portion 12, a bill 14, an internal sweatband 20, and openings 22 on both sides of the hat 10. In some implementations, the hat does not include a bill 14 attached to crown portion 12. The crown portion 12 comprises an interior surface 16 and an exterior surface 18. In some implementations, openings 22 extend through the exterior surface 18 and interior surface 16 of the crown 12. In some implementations, the hat includes one or more openings 22 to secure items to the hat. In some implementations, the openings 22 are sized and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline of the crown to receive the temple tips of a pair of eyeglasses when a wearer rests the rims of the eyeglasses on the hat's bill and the temples of the eyeglasses abut opposite sides of the hat's crown portion. In a preferred embodiment the openings are reinforced by stitching such as around a button hole or are backed by a reinforcement such as felt or otherwise reinforced to prevent fraying or tearing of the fabric of the crown 12 by repeated use.

The sweatband 20 is a conventional strip of material attached to the interior surface of the crown portion 12 and forms an upwardly opening fold or pocket 24 between the interior surface of the crown portion 12 and the sweatband 20, as shown in FIG. 3. In some implementations, one side of the sweatband 20 is attached about all or a portion of the circumference of the interior surface of the crown portion 12. In some implementations, the sweatband 20 is attached on one side of the sweatband 20 to the lower interior portion 16 of the hat 10 (see, e.g., FIG. 1).

In some implementations, the sweatband 20 is manufactured front an elastic material, semi-elastic material, or other material known, or may become known, to those skilled in the art. In other implementations, the sweatband 20 is manufactured from an inelastic material. The sweatband 20 cotton, felt, or any other suitable material.

In some implementations, the openings 22 are located near the sweatband 20. As discussed above, in some implementations, the openings 22 of the hat 10 provide communication through the exterior portion 18 and interior portion 16 of the crown 12 to the pocket formed by the crown and sweatband. In this way, the pocket or gap formed between the interior surface of the crown portion 12 and the sweatband 20 is accessible from the exterior surface of the hat through the openings 22.

To secure a pair of eyeglasses 30 to the various implementations of the hat 10 disclosed herein, the temples tips 38 of the pair of eyeglasses 30 are inserted through the openings 22 and into the pocket or gap formed between the interior surface of the crown portion 12 and the sweatband 20. The rim 32 then is placed on the bill 14 of the hat 10. Once the temple tips 38 are inserted through the openings 22, the pair of eyeglasses 30 are secured in place by the sweatband 20 which is urged against the crown of the hat by the presence of the wearer's head.

Similarly, to secure other items to the hat, the item is inserted through the openings 22 and into the pocket or gap formed between the interior surface of the crown portion 12 and the sweatband 20. In some implementations, the temple tips 38 and a portion of the temple 36 extend through the openings 22 of the hat 10. In other implementations, only the temple tips 38 extend through the openings 22 of the hat 10. In some implementations, the sweatband 20 is configured such that the pocket or gap formed between the interior surface of the crown portion 12 and the sweatband 20 secures the temple tips.

In some implementations, the location of the sweatband 20 is configured to prevent direct contact between the users head and the temples 36 and/or temple tips 38 of the pair of eyeglasses 30 or any other item being secured. As will be understood, it is preferred that the sweatband be selected from a material that provides padding or mutual protection to the temple tips and the head of the wearer, however, the sweatband itself does not engage the temples in a gripping manner, thus the glasses are readily removed by the wearer.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations-may not be shown or described m detail. While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been put forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention. 

What I claim is:
 1. A method of securing an item on a hat wherein the hat comprises a crown portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a band attached to the interior surface of the crown portion thereby forming a pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band; and at least one opening that extends through the exterior surface and interior surface of the crown portion wherein the at least one opening is positioned such that the pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band is accessible from the exterior surface of the crown portion through the opening, the method comprising: inserting the item through the at least one opening and into the pocket formed between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hat comprises two openings and the two openings are positioned to receive the temple tips of a pair of eyeglasses when a wearer rests the rims of the eyeglasses on the hat's bill and the temples of the eyeglasses abut opposite sides of the hat's crown portion, the method further comprising: inserting the temples tips of the pair of eyeglasses through the two openings, respectively, and into the pocket formed between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band.
 3. An hat comprising: a crown portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface; a band attached to the interior surface of the crown portion thereby forming a pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band; and at least one opening that extends through the exterior surface and interior surface of the crown portion, wherein the at least one opening is positioned such that the pocket between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band is accessible from the exterior surface of the crown portion through the opening such that when an item is inserted in the at least one opening, it can be received by the pocket formed between the interior surface of the crown portion and the band.
 4. A hat as defined in claim 3 wherein said openings are reinforced.
 5. A hat as defined in claim 4 wherein said band provides mutual protection to the head of a wearer and the item inserted through said opening.
 6. A hat as defined in claim 5 wherein said at least one opening is one of two openings through said crown said openings sized and positioned on opposite sides of a centerline of the crown to receive the temple tips of a pair of eyeglasses which can extend into said pocket.
 7. A hat as defined in claim 6 further comprising a bill extending forwardly of said hat with said openings positioned to receive the temple tips of a pair of eyeglasses when a wearer rests the rims of the eyeglasses on said bill and the temples of the eyeglasses abut opposite sides of the hat's crown portion. 